Self-contained portable branding iron



Jul 23, 1968 N. G. COSTOPOULOS SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE BRANDING IRONFiled March 25, 1966 Nick 6. Costopoulos mfg fig, 3-

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,393,672 SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLEBRANDING IRON Nick G. Costopoulos, P.0. Box 192, Sunrise, Wyo. 82231Filed Mar. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 537,329 7 Claims. (Cl. 126-404) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A portable branding device wherein an elongated memberhas a handle on one end and a branding iron detachably mounted to theother. A compressed fuel gas cylinder is detachably mounted in a basereceiving means and further held to the elongated member by a detachableband. The branding iron member is connected to the fuel gas cylinderthrough a valve and the gas is directed into a central axial cavity inthe branding iron where vent holes permit the entry of air forcombustion. Retractable legs are affixed to the elongated member nearits branding iron end. When in an extended position the legs and thehandle form a three point suspension so that the detachable brandingiron element does not contact the surface upon which the compositestructure rests.

This invention relates to branding irons and, more particularly, to aportable branding iron fueled by L. P. gas.

The prior are conventional branding irons now known have proven to beheavy, unwieldy, inflexible in operation and limited in theiradaptability for branding various objects. This invention provides alightweight, easily operated and convenient branding iron which includesa simple and troublefree heat source for the branding portion of theiron.

Conventional branding irons assume a variety of forms, probably the mostcommon of which consists of noth ng more than an elongated piece of ironhaving a brandlng member on one end thereof. In practice, the brandingmember is heated in a fire to a desired temperature prior to thebranding operation. Such devices are admittedly rugged and simple inconstruction but are inconvenient to use since they are slow to heat andrequire repeated reheating while being used. Another disadvantage ofconventional devices of this type arises from the need for a separateheat source. Yet another disadvantage accrues from the fact that thebranding indicia are unchangeable unless the device is completelyreconstructed. The necessity for a separate heat source for the iron isparticularly vexacious since the building of a fire on open range istroublesome and oftentimes dangerous due to the possibility of startinga grass or forest fire. Another serious problem involved with the use ofa fire in certain regions in the scarcity of fuel.

Efforts have been made to improve the aforementioned conventionalbranding iron by the inclusion of a burner associated with the iron forheating same. Devices of this type are exemplified by U.S. Patents Nos.717,019 and 926,881 which employ a burning fluid for heating thebranding iron. Other branding irons such as that exemplified in US.Patent No. 1,101,616 employ a volatile fluid such as ether which ispoured into a storage tank forming a permanent part of the device.

The aforementioned conventional branding iron structures which employliquid fuel, are generally heavy and cumbersome to use and suifer fromthe further disadvantage of requiring a separate storage supply of fuelwhich is inconvenient, messy and a source of fire hazard. Anotherdisadvantage of devices of both of the aforementioned types is thenecessity for rather complex valving and pressure pump means forpressurizing the fiuid in the storage tank on the branding iron. Sincethe fuel sup- 3,393,672 Patented July 23, 1968 ply for such devices mustbe maintained free of debris andsthe like that would clog the smallpassages through which the fuel must pass, they require an inordinateamount of maintenance. Another disadvantage of the liquid fuel type ofbranding iron resides in the fact that the liquid fuel is heavy anddeleteriously adds to the weight of the overall structure.

Conventional branding irons employing volatile fuel suchas ether sufferfrom all of the disadvantages of the liquid fuel devices discussed aboveand are further handicapped by the great danger of explosions incidentwith the use of the iron and with the storage of the fuel.

The conventional branding irons employing either liquid or volatile fuelare all heavy unitary devices from which the fuel tank cannot be removedwithout an essentially complete disassembly of the device. Consequently,when the fuel in the tank becomes exhausted and no further supply offuel is available, it is impractical to heat the iron in a separate firedue to the cumbersome nature of the devices and the possibility of anexplosion of the remnant fuel in the tank.

The known self-fuel branding irons all require that the entire structurebe supported on an auxiliary support or hand held during the heating orcooling of the iron since it is obviously desirable that the iron not bein contact with any other surface while it is hot.

Consequently, the need for a branding iron which is simple, reliable,economical, convenient and safe has long been felt prior to thisinvention.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is the provision of anew and improved branding iron.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a branding ironusing an easily removable fuel tank.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved branding iron employing a source of heat that is convenient,safe and economical.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a branding ironthat employe disposable pressurized gaseous fuel containers.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a self-fueledbranding iron which is light in weight and easy to use.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a self-fueledbranding iron which does not require a separate support during theheating or non-use periods of the branding iron so as to keep the heatedportion of the iron out of contact with other objects.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a brandingiron having readily replaceable branding indicia.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a branding ironemploying a disposable fuel tank that can be removed to enable heatingof the iron by auxiliary sources.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the annexeddrawings, which illustrate a specific embodiment, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;and,

FIG. 2 is a bisecting sectional view of the removable branding iron andthe mounting structure for same. The objects of this invention areachieved by a branding iron structure employing an elongated framemember having selectively removable branding indicia on one end of theframe member and means attached to the frame member for removablymounting a LP. gas cylinder of the well known conventional type forproviding fuel for heating the branding member. A pivotable supportmember attached to the frame provides means for resting the iron duringheating or cooling of the iron.

A preferred embodiment of the branding iron comprising this invention isgenerally designated as shown in FIG. 1. A frame member comprising ahollow elongated mounting member 12 is made of any suitable lightweightmetal and is provided with a handle 13 at one end and an angledextension 14 having a branding iron mounting means 15 extending from theother end thereof. A removable branding iron 16 is threadably receivedon the branding iron mounting means 15, which is angularly offset fromthe main axis of member 12 as shown in FIG. 1. A conventional cylinder18 of L. P. gas is attached to mounting member 12 so that the base ofthe cylinder is received in a cylinder base receiving means 20 whichextends radially from mounting member 12. A cylindrical recess 22 ofslightly greater diameter than the diameter of the cylinder is providedin receiving member 20. The base of the cylinder is received withinrecess 22 as shown in FIG. 1. The axis of the cylinder 18 is parallel tothe axis of member 12 and the outlet of the cylinder is connected bymeans of a conventional female fitting 24 mounted on a conduit 25. Whenfemale fitting 24 is tightened, it opens a conventional ball check valvein cylinder 18 to allow gas to escape to an adjustable valve 28 which isprovided between a second conduit 26 and conduit to vary the gas outputfrom cylinder 18.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the details of the removable branding portion ofthis inventions illustrated embodiment will be clearly seen. Theremovable branding iron 16 consists of a conically shaped body member ofbronze or other suitable metal threadably received on a threadedextension 32 of branding iron mounting means 15. A hollow passage 34extends through both mounting means 15 and threaded'extension 32.Passage 34 communicates with conduit 26 on the end of member 15 oppositeextension 32. A removable orifice jet 38 has a small orifice 40extending therethrough and is threadably received in extension 32. Thebranding iron 15 contains a central axial cavity 42 which has aplurality of hollow passageways 44 communicating therewith to provideair for combustion and permit the escape of the'combustion gases.Branding indicia 46, in .any desired form, extend outwardly from theouter end of member 16.

It should be noted that the aforementioned structure is susceptible tovarious modifications Within the scope of the invention. For example, itis not necessary that the means such as 15, 26, and 32 be formed in aunitary manner as show. Separate threaded sub-assemblies are easilyemployed. As a second example, conduit 26 and passage 34 can be aunitary tube extending through member 15 to receive a separate threadedextension 32 threaded on the end of the tube.

Another important aspect of this invention is the provision of apivotally mounted bifurcated support member 48 which is attached toelongated mounting member 12 and has two divergent leg portions 48a and48b as shown in FIG. 1. The pivotally mounted support member 48 pivotsabout a bolt 50 extending through slightly flexible bracket members 52mounted on member 12. The support member 48 can be retained in either aretracted position (the dashed line position of FIG. 1) or theillustrated extended position by tightening of wing nut 54. An abutment56 engages member 12 when the support member 48 is in its extendedposition so as to prevent further pivotal movement of member 48 in anobvious manner. When the support member 48 is in the extended positionit serves as a support to maintain the heated portion of the iron out ofcontact with the supporting surface. Note that the entire branding ironstructure assumes a three point rest consisting of the two legs of thesupport memberand portion 57,01? the handle 13. This structure providesa convenient means for supporting the heated portion during the timeswhen the iron is not in use or when the iron is being initially heated.

It is also pointed out that support member 48 can obviously be attachedto mounting member 12 in a variety of other conventional ways, such as,for example, by the use of a pivot support employing detent retainingmeans for retaining the support member in the extended and retractedpositions.

A flexible band member 58 is attached to member 12 and encircles thecylinder 18 to firmly maintain the cylinder in position during use.Releasable means 59, which may be any-conventional buckle or clasp,provides means for releasing band member 58. When the cylinder becomesexhausted so as to require replacement, female fitting 24 is loosened;band member 58 is loosened; the old cylinder is removed; and a new oneinserted in its place. The female fitting 24 is then tightened and thedevice is ready for subsequent use. As was noted previously the cylinder18 is of the conventional type having-a ball check valve which isautomatically opened by the tightening of female fitting 24.. Thistightening of female fitting 24 moves the cylinder in an axial directiona small amount. Cylindrical recess 22 is sufficiently deep, however, sothat the end of the cylinder remains within the recess. In instanceswhen the fuel supply cylinder should become exhausted, and noreplacement cylinder is available, the empty cylinder is merely removedand the branding iron heated by a separate heat source in a conventionalmanner. Consequently, there is no danger of an explosion of the remnantfuel in the cylinder.

If it should be desired to change the branding indicia being employed,branding iron 16 is removed simply by rotating it off of extension 32and another iron bearing desired indicia is threaded onto extension 32.

The device of this invention is extremely simple to use since all thatis necessary for use is that adjustable valve 28 be opened and the gasescaping into cavity 42 ignited by means of any external flame or sparkapplied through the passageways 40. A conventional sparking device,match, or even a cigarette lighter provides an ideal and convenientsource of flame for such ignition. The device is highly versatile inthat the intensity of the flame can be adjusted by means of valve 28 sothat the temperature of the branding indicia can be varied for brandingvarious objects.

It is, accordingly, apparent that the aforementioned structure enablesthe use of a convenient, safe and easy to use fuel source in a mannerhighly advantageous over the known devices.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A light-weight self-contained portable branding means comprising:

(a) an elongated mounting member including means for removably attachinga container of compressed feul gas thereto;

(b) a handle on one end of said mounting means and a branding ironmounting means on the other end of said elongated member;

(c) a branding iron including branding indicia and detachably mounted onsaid branding iron mounting means in association with said container ofcompressed fuel gas to receive gas from said container to heat saidbranding iron; and

(d) means for adjusting the amount of gas received by said branding ironso as to "vary the temperature of said branding iron.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said container is in the form of an elongated cylinder having a baseend and a fuel output end with a fuel discharge conduit thereon and (b)said means for removably attaching said container includes acylinderbase receiving means mounted on said elongated member adjacentsaid handle.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said means for attaching said container further .in-

cludes band means attached to said elongated member to encircle saidcontainer.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said branding iron includes a body having a central axial cavitywith a threaded opening at one end of said cavity threaded onto saidbranding iron mounting means and further includes vent holes about theperiphery of said body member communicating with said cavity.

5. The device of claim 4 further including:

(a) a bifurcated support means including two legs attached to saidelongated member to extend outwardly therefrom in an extended positionso that said branding means can rest on three elements consisting ofsaid two legs and said handle so that the branding iron is free fromcontact with the surface upon which the entire structure rests.

6. The device of claim 5 further including:

(a) pivot means mounting said bifurcated support means for pivotalmovement of said support means on said elongated member between saidextended position and a retracted position; and

(b) means for selectively retaining said bifurcated support means ineither said retracted position or said extended position.

7. The device of claim 6 including a band means attached to saidelongated member to encircle said container and wherein:

(a) said elongated member comprises a tubular frame;

(b) said cylinder base receiving means extends radially from saidtubular frame and includes a recessed opening for receiving saidcylinder base;

(c) said tubular frame includes an angled portion at the end oppositefrom said handle which extends outwardly from said tubular frame in thesame direction as said cylinder base receiving means;

(d) said branding iron mounting means is attached to the end of saidangled end portion and said cavity in said branding iron is in alignmentwith the axis of said cylinder; and

(e) said band means is located intermediate said branding iron mountingmeans and said cylinder base receiving means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,616 6/1914 Christiansenl58l6 2,683,484- 7/1954 Falligant 158-33 2,841,694 7/1958 Webster 158-32X 3,171,466 3/1965 Katchur 158-13.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 461,654 2/ 1937 Great Britain. 646,851 11/ 1950 GreatBritain.

JAMES W. 'WESTI-IAVER, Primary Examiner.

